Compact holding device for a meal schedule and/or pictures, calendars, message boards and other like items

ABSTRACT

A novel compact holding device for a meal schedule and/or pictures, calendars, message boards and other like items ( 11 ) comprising a back panel ( 12 ) of clear material having a top edge ( 20 ), a back surface ( 13 ), a front surface ( 14 ), a bottom 180° radius ( 15 ) communicating with a front panel ( 16 ) of clear material having a top edge ( 21 ) located lower in height than said top edge ( 20 ) of said back panel ( 12 ), a back surface ( 17 ), a front surface ( 18 ). Said front surface ( 14 ) of said back panel ( 12 ) and said back surface ( 17 ) of said front panel ( 16 ) being parallel to each other having a space between said back panel ( 12 ) and said front panel ( 16 ). Said back panel ( 12 ) having one or more holes ( 26 ) having an attachment means ( 27 ) located at top area ( 32 ) in said back panel ( 12 ). Said back surface ( 13 ) of said back panel ( 12 ) having an upper magnetic material ( 22 ) having an attachment means ( 23 ), a lower magnetic material ( 24 ) having an attachment means ( 25 ). Said space ( 19 ) forming a holding area ( 28 ) having a left side opening ( 29 ), a right side opening ( 30 ), a top opening ( 31 ). Said holding area ( 28 ) allows a meal schedule form and/or pictures, calendars, message boards, and other like items ( 33 ) to slide into said holding area ( 28 ) from said left side opening ( 29 ) or said right side opening ( 30 ) or said top opening ( 31 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates in general to a holding device, in particular to a compact holding device for a meal schedule on a daily, weekly, semi-weekly or monthly basis and/or pictures, calendars, message board, and other like items. The compact holding device having clear material panels having a magnetic backing allowing attachment to a metal surface and also having one or more holes allowing attachment to any non-metal surface with an attachment means.

2. Description of Prior Art

The following prior arts are of general knowledge of different application of meal schedules:

Prior art includes the use of a piece of paper taped to a surface allowing a person to pencil in the meal schedule. My invention is more friendly in using a compact holding device that can be attached to any surface.

Another prior art includes the use of a piece of magnetic material that can be attached to a metal surface only. Allowing a person to pencil in the meal schedule on the front surface. My invention has more versatility because of its ability to be attached to any surface.

Another prior art includes the use of a chalkboard allowing a person to use a piece of chalk to write in the meal schedule. My invention has no chalk dust to clean up after each application.

Another prior art includes the use of a corkboard allowing a person to pin up a piece of paper or other like material having the meal schedule already written on said piece of paper or other like material. My invention is less clumsy since it need not attach and also attach the paper or like material to the corkboard making it necessary to use two attachments. My invention has only one attachment for the compact holding device to any other surface. The meal schedule is held in position by sliding it into the holding area in the compact holding device.

Another prior art includes the use of a monthly printed calendar where a person can pencil in the meal schedule for each day. My invention has more space area for the meal schedule and is not limited as this prior art.

Another prior art includes the use of a book with blank pages a person can pencil in the meal schedule. My invention is not as clumsy as having a book to keep track of and the book cannot be used over and over. My invention is stationary no need to keep track of its location and my invention can be used multiple times.

Another prior art includes the use of a computer to generate a meal schedule which is left in the computer for future updating of the computer's screen. The computer is used to generate a paper copy to be used as a pin-up at different locations. My invention is a more simple approach to making up a meal schedule and the viewing of the meal schedule.

Another prior art includes the use of a video camera which a person can video the meal schedule (or a DVD can be used) for daily viewing of said meal schedule. This system is very clumsy and takes much time in creating a meal schedule. My invention is much simpler and less costly in creating a meal schedule.

Another prior art includes the use of an audio recorder or a audio CD to audio record the meal schedule which can be played at any time so a person can hear the meal schedule. My invention is much simpler, it takes less time and is less costly.

Another prior art includes the use of non-permanent stickers picturing specific food items and being placed on a flat surface which can be reused as needed. My invention there is less chance of losing the meal schedule because my invention the compact holding device has a holding area which the meal schedule slides into for viewing and does not need non-permanent stickers to keep track of.

Another prior art includes the use of magnetic stickers being placed on a magnetic material. This type of meal schedule cannot be used on a surface that is not metal. My invention can be used on a metal surface or any non-metal surface. My invention can use permanent stickers or non-permanent stickers as well as magnetic stickers with a magnetic material used for the meal schedule. Any type of material can be used in the compact holding device by sliding it into the holding space. This makes my invention universal in its application.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages described above, several objects and advantages of my invention are:

(a) to provide a device for displaying a meal schedule through a clear material.

(b) to provide versatility in changing the meal schedule.

(c) to provide a device to hold multiple meal schedules one in front of each other at the same time.

(d) to provide a holding device having holes allowing the use of the holding device to be attached to different types of surfaces that are non-magnetic.

(e) to provide a magnetic backing on the holding device allowing attachment to a metal surface.

(f) to provide an orderly system of displaying each meal schedule and/or pictures, calendars, message boards and other like items.

Other objects and features are readily apparent from the following embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings although variation and modification may be affected with departing from the sphere and the scope of the normal concepts of the disclosed invention. You will find further objects and advantages of the invention from a consideration of the ensuing descriptions and accompanying drawings.

DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 Shows a perspective view of a compact holding device for a meal schedule, and/or pictures, calendars, message boards and other like items.

FIG. 2 Shows a front view.

FIG. 3 Shows a cross section taken along the line 3-3 FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 Shows a sample of a weekly meal schedule form which is supplied with the compact holding device.

DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   11 Compact holding device for a meal schedule and/or pictures,     calendars, message boards, and other like items. -   12 back panel -   13 back surface -   14 front surface -   15 bottom 180° radius -   16 front panel -   17 back surface -   18 front surface -   19 space -   20 top edge -   21 top edge -   22 top magnetic material -   23 attachment means -   24 bottom magnetic material -   25 attachment means -   26 one or more holes -   27 attachment means -   28 holding area -   29 left side opening -   30 right side opening -   31 top opening -   32 top area -   33 meal schedule form and/or picture, calendars, message boards, and     other like items.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The compact holding device for a meal schedule and/or pictures, calendars, message boards and other like items 11, shown in FIG. 1, comprises of a back panel 12 having a top edge 20, a back surface 13, a front surface 14, a bottom 180° radius 15 thereby forming a front panel 16 being parallel to said back panel 12 having a space 19 between said back panel 12 and said front panel 16. Said front panel 16 having a top edge 21 located lower than said top edge 20 of said back panel 12, a back surface 17, a front surface 18. Said back panel 12 having one or more holes 26 having an attachment means 27 located at the top area 32. Said back panel 12 on said back surface 13 having an upper magnetic material 22 having an attachment means 23 and having a lower magnetic material 24 having an attachment means 25. Said space 19 thereby forming a holding area 28 having a left side opening 29, a right side opening 30, a top opening 31. Said holding area 28 allows a meal schedule form and/or pictures, calendars, message boards and other like items 33 to slide into said holding area 28 from said left side opening 29, or said right side opening 30, or said top opening 31.

CONCLUSION AND SCOPE OF INVENTION

Accordingly, the reader will see that the compact holding device for a meal schedule, and/or pictures, calendars, message boards and other like items of this invention has the ability to provide a more compact holding device. Furthermore, the compact holding device has the additional advantages in that:

-   -   it provides the ability for a single meal schedule, or multiple         meal schedules to be placed in the holding area.     -   it allows the holding area to be used for holding pictures,         calendars, message boards and other like items.     -   it allows the compact holding device to be attached to a metal         surface.     -   it allows the compact holding device to be attached to any         non-metal surface.     -   it provides a novel holding device which has a multiple usage,         (at home and at work).     -   it provides a holding device having a clear material allowing         visibility of the item being held in the holding area.

Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the compact holding device can have other shapes such as square, oval, trapezoidal, triangular, etc. Different combinations of material can be used such as wood, plastic, rubber, metals, etc. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

1. A compact holding device for a meal schedule and/or pictures, calendar, message boards and other like items comprises of a back panel of clear material having sufficient thickness, width and length, having a top edge, a back surface, a front surface, a bottom 180° radius communicating with a front panel of clear material having a top edge located lower in height than said top edge of said back panel, a back surface, a front surface. Said front surface of said back panel and said back surface of said front panel being parallel to each other and having a sufficient space between said back panel and said front panel. Said back panel having one or more holes having sufficient size and having an attachment means located at top area in said back panel. Said back panel having an upper magnetic material having sufficient thickness, width and length having an attachment means located on said back surface of said back panel and having a lower magnetic material having sufficient thickness, width and length having an attachment means located on said back surface of said back panel. Said space forming a holding area having sufficient width and length having a left side opening, a right side opening, a top opening. Said holding area allows a meal schedule form and/or pictures, calendars, message board and other like items to slide into said holding area from said left side opening or said right side opening or said top opening. 